Stock register



Jun.; 2, 1925.

J. P. SWIFT STOCK REGISTER Filed Feb. 24, 1925 10 quantities ofcommodities Y Ul tering mechanism, the

Patented June 2, 1925.

' UNITED STATES JOHN PRESTON SWIFT, or WAYNEsvrLLE,u NORTH CAROLINA.

STOCK REGISTER.

Application iled February 24, 1923.

To all whom 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. SWIFT, a citizen of the -United States, andresident of lVaynesville, in the county of Haywood l `5 and State ofNorth Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStock Registers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a device for registering in stock, and for countingquantities as taken from stock, and it consists in the constructions,combina tions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which affords facilities whereby quantities of a plurality ofdifferent articles may be counted in any predetermined .sequence andwhich also of removable strips supplying desirable data concerning anyone ofthe articles, vthe quantity` of which is being determined at thatparticular time.

A further object of the invention 1s to j provide a device of thecharacter specified which has means for releasably holding the quantity'registering 'mechanism of the device against retrograde movement, theholding means being operable at will to permit adjustment of theregistering mechanism to indicate any predetermined quantity to be addedor subtracted or to permit more rapid operation of theregistering'mechanism than is possible when the holding means is 1nengagement therewith.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter de- 'scribed which is extremely simple in coneasy to operate,

struction, compact inl form,

and thoroughly economical to manufacture lpractical commercially.

Other objects and advantages will bev`apparent from the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich` Figure lis a perspective view showing a register embodying theinvention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the regishousing therefor beingomitted,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 2,

'Figure 4 is a section along the line A of Flgure 2, and Y i f providesmeans for holding a 'pluralityl Serial No. 621,005.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In carrying out my invention,I provide a supporting frame comprising afiat base 1 having a transversely extending flat end por` tion 2upstanding from one end thereof and preferably integral therewith. Thesupporting frame also includes an upstanding flat end 3 which is similarto the end 2 and is secured to the base by any suitable known fasteningmeans in upstanding relation to the end of the latter opposite to thatprovided with the end 2. The ends 2 and 3 are thus ,disposedtransversely of the base and in parallel relation to each other.

end portion of the shaft 4 is provided with a handle or key 5 shown ashaving a knurled head 6 adapted to be conveniently grasped between thethumb and foreinger and turned to rotate the shaft. A plurality ofnumber wheels are mounted on the shaft 4 between the ends 2 and 3. Inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated, four number wheels areshown (more or less may be used), the respective number wheels beingdesignated 7, 8, 9 and 10. Each two adjacent number wheels are held withthe rim portions thereof spaced apart by a hub ortion extendingbeyondthe adjacent en of one number wheel into sliding engagement withthe adjacent face of the next in the series. In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated, the extending hub portions of the respectivenumber wheels are designated 7", 8, 9a and 10". The hub portion 10a ofthe number wheel 1() which is the last wheel of the series is shown asextending into sliding engagement with the adjacent face of the end 3.Eachv number wheel has a series of characters produced on the peripherythereof in spaced relation inrespect to one another, the seriesextending entirely around the wheel. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, the characters are the numerals 0 to 9 arranged insequence.

The number wheel 7 is secured to the shaft 4 to rotate with the latterwhile the number wheels 8. 9 and 1() are loosely mounted on the shaft.Each of the number wheels 8, 9 and number wheel 10 has an annular seriesof gear teeth rigid therewith and located between one end of the lnumberwheel and the adjacent number wheel, the respective annular series ofgear teeth being designated 8b, 9b and 10". These gear teeth may beformed of pins extending laterally from the wheel to which they aresecured and the diameter of each series of gear teeth is less than thatof the number wheel. These series of gear teeth are part of a mechanismfor transmitting motion from the number wheel 7 to the number wheels 8,9 and 10 intermittently and in such sequence that a complete rotation ofthe wheel 7 will result in the number wheel 8 being moved one tenth of acomplete revolution, a complete rotation of the number wheel 8 causing aone-tenth rotation of thev number wheel 9, etc. The motion transmittingmechanism preferred by me includes a second shaft 11 supported at itsends in the ends 2 and 3 in s aced parallel relation to the shaft 4. achof the number wheel hubs 7a, 8a and 9a is enlarged radially for part ofits circumference and the enlargement is formed with a notch 12 in itsouter end, each notch 12 thus being ianked by gear teeth or projections13-13 which lic in the arc described by the radius of the annular seriesof gear teeth on the adjacent number wheel. A pinion 14 is provided foreach two-adjacent numberwheels, each of the pinions 14 being looselymounted on the shaft 11 with the transverse median line thereof lying ina plane extending midway between the planes of the adjacent ends of therim portions of the two adjacent number wheels. Each pinion 14 isprovided with relatively wide teeth 15 spanning the yspace between therim portions of each two adjacent number wheels, the relatively wideteeth of the pinions alternating with narrower teeth 15. The gear teeth8", 9* or 10b at one end of -one of the said two adjacent number wheelsare engaged continuously b the teeth of'the associated pinion and in a.dition one of the relatively wide teeth 15 of said pinion will beengaged between the projections 13-13 of the adjacent number wheelduring each complete rotation of the latter and will be moved in unisonwith the latter through one-tenth of a revolution about the axis of theshaft 4. The friction between the num- 'ber wheels 8, 9 and 9, 10.. andbetween the gear teeth 8", 9b and 10 at one end of each of such numberwheels and the pinions 14 is sufficient to normally hold each of thenumber wheels 8, 9 and 10 aga-inst rotation about the shaft 4 and in anyposition to which moved intermittently in the manner described. y

.A ratchet wheel 16 is secured to the shaft 4 and is disposed betweenthe fixed number wheel 7 and the end 2 of the supporting frame. Theratchet wheel 16 has teeth corresponding in number and arrangement withthe numerals on the number wheel 7. These teeth 17 (best seen in Fig. 4)are formed to extend obliquely to radial lines of the ratchet wheel andare adapted to be engaged successively by the inwardly and downwardlybent end of a spring latch or pawl 18 having the other end thereofpivotally secured at 19 in a recess in onel side edge of the base 1. Thearrangement is such that the spring pawl or latch may move laterally ofthe -plane of the ratchet wheel into and out of a recess 20 in theadjacent face of vthe-end 2 and thereby into and out of engagement withthe ratchet teeth but is held against moving outwardly from the ratchetteeth. An arm 21 for operating the spring pawl to move the latter intoand out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet' wheel extendsslidably in a groove 22 in the end 2 and projects beyond the outer faceof the latter, being bent outwardly adjacent to its extremity asindicated at 23.

A housing for the registering mechanism and supporting frame describedin the foregoing comprises a substantially Hat base 24 and a cover 25mounted upon the base and being open at one end so that the supportingframe with the registering mechanism mounted thereon lnay be slid intoand out of position to rest upon the base 24 within the cover 25, theend 2 of the supporting frame then forming a closure for the open end ofthe cover. The cover 25 conforms in cross sectional contour to the crosssectional cohtour of each of the ends 2 and 3 and since the latter haveinclined side faces converging toward their upper ends and being mergedone into the other by rounded upper faces, the sides of the cover willlikewise be inclined or slope toward each other, as shown. Pairs ofspaced apart parallel strips or flanges respectively indicated at 26 and27 are provided on the sides of the cover adjacent to the lower endsthereof, these strips being secured at their remote edges to the sidesof the cover and having the adjacent longitudinal portionsthereof'upwardly offset to lie in spaced relation to the interposedportion of the sides of thecover and' tov cooperate with the latter indefining a slide holder for strips such as indicated' at 28. Each of thestrips 28 may have desirable indicia or data produced on the outer facethereof and a plurality of strips 28 may be disposed successively in theslide holder on each side of the cover, being retained therein by thestri s 26 and 27 which constitute retaining gui es.

Since the sides of the cover 25 are inclined, the data on the 'stripsdisposed in the slide holders may be conveniently observed.

The base 24 of the housing is provided with marginal portions extending,beyond the opposite sides of the cover. Each of the extending marginalportions Aof the base is provided with a marginal flange 29 extendingalong a plurality of the edges thereof and overlying the marginalportion of the base to cooperate with the latter to provide slideholders adapted to receive movable slides 31 which as in the case of theslides 28 have desirable indicia or data produced A thereon.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof maybe readily understood. The device is designedparticularly for use in registering quantities of small articles, suchas accessories and parts of automotive vehicles or like commodities. Intaking stock or determinig the total number of each commodity on hand ata given time, it is necessary to determine by actual/count the quantityof each particular article on hand and this can be done quickly andaccurately by manipulating the handle 5 to 'effect rotation of thenumber wheels, whereby the quantity of the article will be registeredand the result of the count indicated at all times during the countingoperation. The engagement of the spring pawl 18 with the ratchetwheelwill cause a slight click to be heard and felt each time the numberwheel 7 is turned one tenth ofare-volution.

With the arrangement of number wheels described the numerals on thenumber wheel 7 represent units, those on the number wheel 8 representtens, these on the number wheel 9 represent hundreds while the numeralson the number wheel 10 representy thousands. In the event that it isdesired to adjust the numberiwheels at any time to indicate apredetermined quantity,.as for instance to correct an error, or to setthe device for further operation after the quantity of one arvticle hasbeen determined and permanently registered, the outturned end portion 23of the pawl operating arm may be pressed outwardly by' the finger torelease the ratchet wheel and theshaft 4 then ral idly rotated in eitherdirection to add or su tract.

The slides disposed in the several slide holders may supply informationrelating to the article, the quantity of which is bein measured. Forinstance, one of the slides may have produced thereon lthe name `of thearticle and the selling priceithereof, another of the slides mayindicate the stock number of the article, another of the slides mayindicate the quantity thereof received in a late shipment while stillanother of the slides may show the quantity on hand at any given priordate. The cover 25 of the housing is Y provided with an inspectionopening 32 preferably closed by a transparent ,closure to exclude dustfrom the registering mechanism of the device and permitting observationof g end portion of aligned numerals on the peripheries of the numberwheels 'when sucn numerals are in position to indicate the quantityrecorded by the' device at that particular time.

The inspection o ening 32 is located near the upper edge o the cover'sothat the numerals on the number wheels may be conveniently observed.Screw receiving openings 33 are provided in the base so that the housingcanl be secured upon a suitable suppor A Obviously, my invention issusceptible of embodiment in forms other than that-illustrated hereinand I therefore consider as my own all modifications and adaptations of/the form of the device disclosed herein which fairly fall Within thescope of the appended claims. l

I claim 1. In a registering device of the character described, a supportincluding an upright member, ay number wheel mounted to rotate inproximity to said upright, a ratchet wheel disposed between said uprightand said number wheel and connected to the number wheel to control therotation of the latter, said upright having a recess in the face thereofproximate to said ratchet wheel, and a spring pawl attached at one endto sald support to swing between position to engage at its free end withsaid ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel in onedirection and position out of engagement with said ratchet wheel inwhich the free e-nd portion of said pawl is received in said recess.

2. In a registering device of the character described, a supportincluding an upright member. a number Wheel mounted to rotate 1nproximity to said upright, a ratchet wheel disposed between said uprightand said number wheel and connected to the vnumber wheel to control therotation of the latter, said upright having a recess in the face thereofa spring pawl attached at one end to said support to swing between atits free end with said ratchet Wheel to prevent rotation of the ratchetwheelin one direction and position out of engagement with said ratchetwheel in whichthe free said pawl is received in said recess,` the bottomwall of said recess constituting a guide on which the free end por'-tion of said pawl can slide between said positions. l

3. In a registering device of the'character described, a housingincluding an end member having a recess in the inner face thereof vandhaving an opening extending from the proximate to said-ratchet wheel,and,

housing for roill!) position to engage tation with said ratchet wheel, aspring pawl pivotaliy supported at one end Within the housing, said pawlbeing swingable from yposition to engage at its free end with the 5teeth of said ratchet wheel and tothen prevent rotation of the ratchetwheel in one direction to :and from position to extend into said recessand out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, and a pawloperating handle extending through said opening in said end member ofthe housing and being operableexterorly of the housing.

JOHN PRESTON SWFT.

